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When
the Civil War came, Henry Frost answered his nation's call. On
April 24, 1861 Henry Frost enlisted in the Union Army as a
Private. He was assigned to Company C, Fourth Infantry Regiment
New Jersey on April 27, 1861.
The
Fourth Regiment--Militia, was commanded by Colonel Matthew
Miller, Jr., serving under him were Lieutenant Colonel Simpson
R. Stroud and Major Robert C. Johnson. This regiment was
mustered into the U. S. service at Trenton, April 27, 1861,
to serve for three months, and left the state for Washington,
D. C., on May 3, with 37 commissioned officers and 743
non-commissioned officers and privates, a total of 777. On the
evening of May 5 it reached the capital, and on the 9th it was
ordered to go into camp at Meridian hill, where, within a few
days the entire brigade was encamped, and where, on the 12th,
it was honored by a visit from the president, who warmly complimented
the appearance of the troops. On the evening of May 23 it
joined the 2nd and 3d regiments and about midnight took up
the line of march in silence for the bridge that spanned
the Potomac. This bridge was crossed at 2 o'clock on the
morning of the 24th, the 2nd was posted at Roach's spring, and
the 3d and 4th about half a mile beyond on the Alexandria road.
On July 16, a guard was detailed from the 4th for a section
of the Orange & Alexandria railroad, which it was important
to hold; one company from the regiment guarded the Long
bridge; still another was on duty at Arlington mills; and the
remainder of the regiment, together with the 2nd, was ordered
to proceed to Alexandria. On July 24, the term of service
having expired, the 4th returned to New Jersey and was mustered
out at Trenton, July 31, 1861. The total strength of the
regiment was 783, and it lost by discharge 6, by promotion 2,
by death 2 and by desertion 7, mustered out, 766.
Henry Frost was among those who mustered out with Company C,
Fourth Infantry Regiment New Jersey on July 31, 1861 at
Trenton, NJ. After some time at home in Camden, Henry Frost
re-enlisted, on June 2, 1862 as a private in Company H, 10th
Infantry Regiment New Jersey.
This
regiment was organized under the provisions of an act of
Congress, approved July 22, 1861, and by authority issued
by the war department direct to private individuals resident
of the state, and not in any way under the control or supervision
of the state authorities. Under the authority thus given,
recruiting was commenced and the organization soon completed.
It was then accepted by the war department as an independent
organization, having been designated the "Olden Legion."
The regiment went into camp at Beverly, New Jersey, and from
thence proceeded to Washington on December 26, 1861, with 35
officers, 883 non-commissioned officers and privates, a total of
918. It went into camp at Camp Clay on the Bladensburg turnpike,
a mile from Washington. On January 29, 1862, the regiment
was transferred to the state authorities and it was then
thoroughly reorganized and designated the 10th regiment. The
greater part of its early service was performed in and around
Washington, having been assigned there for provost duty. Henry
Frost was promoted to Full Corporal on October 20, 1862.
On
April 12, 1863, the Tenth New Jersey was detached and proceeded
to Suffolk, Virginia, to assist in repelling a
demonstration by the enemy at that point. Coming up with
the enemy at Carrsville, near the Blackwater River, the
Tenth speedily became engaged, capturing some prisoners and
inflicting considerable loss on the retreating foe, the
regiment losing several men in killed and wounded.
During
the following winter, which was spent in the mining regions
of Pennsylvania, many of the organization reenlisted and the regiment was otherwise recruited, but to such an extent
were desertions instigated by the people of that section, that the colonel, who was anxious to be united with the Army of the Potomac, urged the department to place his command in the field. It shared in all the battles of the Wilderness campaign all the way to Petersburg, on every field displaying
conspicuous gallantry. In the battle of the Wilderness it
suffered severely, especially in the assault of the Confederate Gen. Gordon late on May 6. In the engagement resulting from this assault, the regiment lost nearly one entire company in prisoners alone. On the evening of the 8th it again met the foe, when the regiment on its left became in some way separated from it and the two being thus isolated, were pounced upon by the enemy with great force, compelling them to give way, with
heavy loss--the 10th having 80 men and several officers
captured, including Colonel Tay, the prisoners being taken to the rear and the next day started for Richmond, but were fortunately on the same day rescued from the hands of their guards by
General Sheridan, at Beaver Dam Station. The total loss of the regiment up to this time, aside from prisoners, had been
113--18 killed and 95 wounded. In the fighting along the Po River the
Tenth shared with the brigade, and at Cold Harbor
again suffered largely, being in the first day's engagement in the third line of battle, and losing some 70 in killed and wounded. In the assault upon the enemy's position the regiment
charged alone at a peculiarly exposed point and sustained heavy loss, amounting in all to some 65 in killed and wounded.
On
July 9, 1864 at Monocacy, Maryland the Tenth New Jersey and
other units under the command of Major General Lew Wallace which
had left Frederick on the evening of the 8th and by a night
march took position on the left bank of the Monocacy river.
Early on the morning of the 9th the Confederates moved out from Frederick
City and began the fight in skirmish order, a little later
bringing their artillery into action. The enemy's cavalry
and artillery then moved around to the Federal left and
charged vigorously on the 3rd division of the 6th army corps,
but the attack was repulsed and a countercharge made, driving
the enemy back. A second attack of Confederate
infantry was repulsed, but with heavy loss to both sides. About
3:30 p.m. the enemy's batteries were brought into position
to enfilade the Federal line and another assaulting force
of four lines of infantry was moved into position. When Wallace
saw the approaching column he ordered a retreat on the Baltimore
Pike, where Brigadier General E. B. Tyler had been skirmishing
fiercely all day. The retreat was made in good order, Tyler
forming the rear-guard. The Confederates followed for some
distance, but darkness stopped the pursuit. The Federal
loss amounted to 123 killed, 603 wounded and 568 captured
or missing. The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was
reported as being 700.
On
July 13th the Tenth New Jersey was in another skirmish outside
of Washington DC. On July 15th, at Tennallytown, Maryland, while
the regiment was en route to Snicker's Ford, Virginia Corporal
Henry Frost deserted.
Henry
Frost returned to Camden and became involved with the Weccacoe
Fire Company No. 2 as a volunteer fireman in the late 1860s.
Henry
Frost was appointed to the Camden Fire Department as a replacement
for J. Kelly Brown, who had
resigned from service as an extra man with Engine
Company 2, on October 9, 1872. Henry Frost was a
blacksmith by trade. He was living at 112 Taylor
Avenue during his time in service with the Camden Fire
Department. Henry
Frost was dismissed from his position on July 15, 1873 along
with Bernard Dennis
and Thomas Grapevine.
This ended his involvement with the Camden Fire Department. The
1878 Camden City Directory shows Henry Frost, blacksmith, at 412
South 2nd Street. Not long afterwards Henry Frost went to work
for Charles Caffrey, who had a large carriage building business
near Tenth and
Market
Streets. The
1880 Census shows Henry Frost as a carriage painter at 412
South 2nd Street, where he lived with his wife Sarah. The 1881-1882
lists "Harry Frost, blacksmith" at 578 Carman
Street,
however the 1882-1883 and 1883-1884 City Directories show Henry
Frost at 578 Carman
Street. In 1882-1883 he is listed as a
"coach smith", in the 1883-1884 directory his
occupation is laborer. Henry
Frost's real avocation and to some extent occupation was as a
dog fighter. His bulldog, "Whitey", won numerous
fights and a good deal of money for Henry Frost, both in Camden
and in other large cities in the northeast. In the spring of
1883 the dog was stolen, and Henry Frost began drinking to
excess. As a former member of the Weccacoe Fire Company No. 2,
Henry Frost realized a bit of money when their old firehouse at
503 Benson Street was sold in 1883. With the money he received
he opened a small saloon at North 11th and Carpenter
Streets,
where he died on December 28, 1883. Henry Frost was survived by
his wife Sarah, who operated the business for about a year,
appearing in the 1884-1885 City Directory as "Frost Sarah,
liquors, 11th and Carpenter". The 1885-1888 City Directory
reads"Frost Sarah, widow of Henry", at 410 Mickle
Street. Henry
Frost's brother, George
Frost, later served as a member of the
Camden Fire Department, as did brother-in-law William
Turner. Another brother, Charles A. Frost, was a
successful businessman in Camden. Henry Frost's nephew, George
W. Frost, the son of his older brother Frederick, had a long
career with the Camden Police Department, retiring as Chief of
Police in the late 1940s. Another nephew, brother George's son
Frank Frost, served with the Camden Police Department in the
1910s. |
